2h Barbarian build: Merciless Assault build

Also on a side note for the peeps talking about crit. I burn through mobs without or very little crit at all. Charge through...Rend...and watch them die. I do run with over 8% lifesteal which is great. Now I'm only currently farming act 1 but I'm doing it with easy.
Here's my build: http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Potjie-2181/hero/15745266 .

On a side not...which follower should I use? Currently running with the enchantbitch.

My defenses were too low with the offensive passives for Act 3. Normal mobs ate me alive. Switched to those two defensive passives and I could take on 3-4 Hulking Phasebeasts before leap. Leap basically makes you invulnerable.

For Act 1 and probably Act 2, I would switch out to offensive passives.

Perk about this build that I don't think anyone has mentioned:

When charging or leaping, you cause an animation interrupt for enemies. Last about .5 seconds. Pretty much enough time to leap into a group, rend, then start the charging process. A leap, rend, charge combo after 4/5 seconds and the group should be < 1/2="" health="" to="">

I want to add tornadoes (Sprint RLTW) into this build. One problem of this build is if leap is on CD, rend is not up, and you charge into a group, the possibility of dying is high due to dodge animations when trying to get off a rend. I want to see if tornadoes add the extra survivability when trying to get a rend off. Kiting for 6 seconds for the next leap can add unwanted time to farming. I wish there was a way to reduce animation times. I will edit this post to comment on how tornadoes work with this build in all acts.

When charging or leaping, you cause an animation interrupt for enemies. Last about .5 seconds. Pretty much enough time to leap into a group, rend, then start the charging process. A leap, rend, charge combo after 4/5 seconds and the group should be < 1/2="" health="" to="">

I did mentioned charge gives you "limited crowd control" But yeah, as long as you keep hitting 5 or more enemies and keep doing the charge, it's just impossible for you to die. Elites are exception because they are not affected by the small knockback and can still hit you midcharge. That's why against elites you switch to rend.

I want to add tornadoes (Sprint RLTW) into this build. One problem of this build is if leap is on CD, rend is not up, and you charge into a group, the possibility of dying is high due to dodge animations when trying to get off a rend. I want to see if tornadoes add the extra survivability when trying to get a rend off. Kiting for 6 seconds for the next leap can add unwanted time to farming. I wish there was a way to reduce animation times. I will edit this post to comment on how tornadoes work with this build in all acts.

I have experimented with manyy sprint runes, including RLTW. All sprint will also increase your charge speed (which was already fast before, tbh). Gangway actually offers additional hit as you charge through them, although the "proc" is rather random and the dmg is just negligible at best. RLTW actually leaves tornado as you charge, so it's a nice dmg addition. Problem is that you have to probably drop leap in order to get RLTW and leap offer you much higher survivability. Gettins second fury spender means you also can't get berserker rage passive. Dropping rend for RLTW just isn't worth it. If you're already geared enough and would like to speed up the run, marathon rune for sprint actuallyy fits the bill the best anyway since you won't be needing that extra dmg from RLTW.

You can reduce rend animation time by using faster weapon or ias, but that comes with the cost of lowering your dmg (or wasting stat slot or pay more for ias). You could always play it a little safer against tougher pack by rending from the side instead of the middle of the pack (like against elite colossal golgors).

I've done some math regarding battle fury rune bloodshed, and it appears that if you have some crit and critdmg, you will almost always gain more benefit from using the rune bloodshed compare to marauder's rage.

To everyone who is asking how much stats are needed to complete Inferno with this build, here is my current equip and a rough stat-breakdown. Current Profile http://eu.battle.net...93/hero/2078435

Edit: Ah and before anyone asks, my current gear cost was about 750k gold overall, with 4 pieces self-found (helm, neck, left ring and waist). Weapon was 75k at AH.

My Stats are as follows with Enchantress, Warcry/Impunity and Battle Rage/Marauders Rage
53k DPS
38.5% Crit
190% Crit-Damage
4.7% LL
8.4k Armor
500 - 750 All Res, where Phys-Res is 750 and Fire-Res is 650 (the two most important Res)

With these Stats I was able to complete Act 3 and 4 in one run of 3.5 hours with around 20 Deaths (5 to Diablo, 1 to Azmo, rest to Champs/Elite and even 2 Deaths to Trashmobs ) yielding a total repair cost of ~60k gold, but earned over 400k gold not counting AH Sells.

So overall this spec is very solid for completing the game, much more solid than blender WW-Spec imho.

My defenses were too low with the offensive passives for Act 3. Normal mobs ate me alive. Switched to those two defensive passives and I could take on 3-4 Hulking Phasebeasts before leap. Leap basically makes you invulnerable.

For Act 1 and probably Act 2, I would switch out to offensive passives.

Perk about this build that I don't think anyone has mentioned:

When charging or leaping, you cause an animation interrupt for enemies. Last about .5 seconds. Pretty much enough time to leap into a group, rend, then start the charging process. A leap, rend, charge combo after 4/5 seconds and the group should be < 1/2="" health="" to="">

I want to add tornadoes (Sprint RLTW) into this build. One problem of this build is if leap is on CD, rend is not up, and you charge into a group, the possibility of dying is high due to dodge animations when trying to get off a rend. I want to see if tornadoes add the extra survivability when trying to get a rend off. Kiting for 6 seconds for the next leap can add unwanted time to farming. I wish there was a way to reduce animation times. I will edit this post to comment on how tornadoes work with this build in all acts.

some odd choices in there with ground stomp and the stun on leap over iron impact. The reason for this is that Rend+BL is really powerful but with a slow 2hander you can be in hit recovery for ages and it's hard to get it off against certain mob types/combinations. The stuns give you a few free seconds of breathing room to get the rend up and then you can cleave tightly packed mobs and do great extra damage when you crit with bloodshed on BR.

I tried this build the other night because I was a bit bored of the WW build (still like it but wanted to try something new). I bought a cheap 955dps 2H with crit dmg and LL (everything else is completely overpriced at EU ah) and I have to say that it's really fun to play! You really rexplode monsters like a barb^^
I died a few times at the beginning cos I was not paying attention to the cd on leap and charge and got stuck in the middle of a elite pack and died.
The only downside is that I miss a lot Wrath and the anti-cc built in it. Probably too familiar with the cc immune in the WW build^^
I'll try to include Wrath in the build if it really bothers me, probably in replacement of leap.

Decided to give this build ago, and fell love straight away. Much more fun to play than boring WW build or sword and board. Had to buy some new gear pieces thou but it was worth it. Can burst through Act 3 now quite fast and with ease.

Decided to give this build ago, and fell love straight away. Much more fun to play than boring WW build or sword and board. Had to buy some new gear pieces thou but it was worth it. Can burst through Act 3 now quite fast and with ease.

Typho, your guide is very helpful - I can't test it now, because I just bought a new weapon to this build.

I just wanted to know - is it possible to make this build with three pieces of "Cain's Fate" set (helm with socket, pants and boots)? I want to increase my paragon level fast.
Can you guys give me general advices to my character according to this bulid? Thanks.

Back to topic... started using the build listed by the OP with cleave instead of bash, having a blast, a bit more risky then double tornado build but its nice with a change.

I've been experimenting a bit with cleave, too. I have to say I'm not a big fan of cleave. The aoe provided is too limited as it only works if the mobs are standing shoulder to shoulder and in an arc in front of you. The damage gimped by not using bash is also enough of a significance. Also, in this particular build I feel like there's enough of an aoe option that cleave is not necessary. you can either charge or rend if charge is on cooldown.

However, among all the cleave runes I'd have to say either rupture or broad sweep is probably the best. Rupture can be pretty good since it can chain and wipe out a whole pack in one swing.

I found the sweet spot for me with this build, I just changed Leap and I use Ignore Pain instead. I just find it a lot more useful for bring Elite Packs down, without risks. Really really fun build and you feel like a real barbarian.

I was s&b barb from start(60k dps (75k with max fury),8.7k armor, 1k loh, max attack speed on items. 42crit/300crit dmg/900res).
Tryed ww barb.. it suck for me.
Now i tryed this build. Yep!! I can also say... this is the sh*T!!!
Kept Berserker instead battle rage. Cus i found the dmg isnt a problem anymore. And berserker can put some insane dmg + cc immunity (wich i found critical if u got jailed in molten fire. (the survival is kinda low) Also, with berserker i can finish bad combos in 5 secs before they even put their cc abilities in use !
Also found out rend to be stacking on mobs. Put 3 rends in same time.. and ull notice the ticks get doubled after each apply. Combine this with berserker and ... demonic tremors pack with extra health die in 5 secs
The thing i love the most is dealing with my worst monsters.. succubus/the fat occultists and the spearmen. Now i dont break my nerves chasing them around.. just applying rend.. and waiting them to die
Oh edit.. and im also using broad sweep Cleave isntead bash.

1) Cleave instead of Bash (i love rupture, but i can see bash being better overall)
2) WotB instead of Battle Rage (again flavor, i like the CC immunity and increased runspeed vs some champ packs, when my DPS gets better i might switch)
3) Nerves of Steel instead of Berserker Rage (need the defense)

Thanks for posting your thoughts on this, i really love this build, especially the Merciless Assault rune which i used during most of the time leveling to 60 until i had to switch to dreadnaught in inferno.
Thanks to the buff to Rend and Lifesteal on 2H Weapons i could now switch back to Merciless Assault.

You should try cleave w/ the rupture rune, it is really fun to make corpses explode and fly away...

On SC I rarely die on act3 inferno anymore (99% of my death only comes from the godforsaken fallen maniac...). So I'd say it's at the very least somewhat viable, but that depends a lot on your gear and how good you are at dodging the fallen maniac.... (tbh if I'm playing HC I'd avoid keep area altogether just because of those fat bastards).

1) Cleave instead of Bash (i love rupture, but i can see bash being better overall)
2) WotB instead of Battle Rage (again flavor, i like the CC immunity and increased runspeed vs some champ packs, when my DPS gets better i might switch)
3) Nerves of Steel instead of Berserker Rage (need the defense)

Thanks for posting your thoughts on this, i really love this build, especially the Merciless Assault rune which i used during most of the time leveling to 60 until i had to switch to dreadnaught in inferno.
Thanks to the buff to Rend and Lifesteal on 2H Weapons i could now switch back to Merciless Assault.

You should try cleave w/ the rupture rune, it is really fun to make corpses explode and fly away...

I've tried some cleave variations. I agree that rupture rune is probably the best rune for cleave. However, I feel like the cleave is either redundant with furious charge/rend in terms of aoe or the aoe is too limited and hard to use. The dmg loss also often makes it require more hits to finish off the few mobs left which is what I need my normal attack to do most of the time (after the charge period settles).

For Wotb, I find that I kill too fast to have it come off cd reliably against elites. If I'm using a long cd ability I'd recommend EQ instead of leap. EQ scale much better for 2h especially with battle fury+berserker rage. rend+EQ = dead elites in almost all the cases.

On a more general note, I've tried swapping Berserker rage for other defensive passive including bloodthirst many times, the result often is that I actually survive better with the 20% damage buff because of how much faster stuff dies.

I've tried some cleave variations. I agree that rupture rune is probably the best rune for cleave. However, I feel like the cleave is either redundant with furious charge/rend in terms of aoe or the aoe is too limited and hard to use. The dmg loss also often makes it require more hits to finish off the few mobs left which is what I need my normal attack to do most of the time (after the charge period settles).

It actually works pretty good, since mobs will be low enough for a few kills to occur on strike which often is enough to kill the rest of the pack. Of course vs only 1 mob Bash will always win. But this is prolly more of a game style choice. Both are obviously viable.

For Wotb, I find that I kill too fast to have it come off cd reliably against elites. If I'm using a long cd ability I'd recommend EQ instead of leap. EQ scale much better for 2h especially with battle fury+berserker rage. rend+EQ = dead elites in almost all the cases.

Personally i don't like EQ, and i will certainly start using battle rage whenever i do some Act 2 for a change. I think from a certain baseline dmg on WotB just doesnt help as much anymore...

On a more general note, I've tried swapping Berserker rage for other defensive passive including bloodthirst many times, the result often is that I actually survive better with the 20% damage buff because of how much faster stuff dies.

I will have to check how often i am at 100% rage, the only real spender is rend so uptime might actually be quite high.